TWENTY YEARS OF BONE AND JOINT TUBERCULOSIS IN BRADFORD

Abstract

The immigrant Asian population of Bradford has a relatively high incidence of bone and joint tuberculosis, which now accounts for most of this disease in the city. One hundred and seventy-six cases of skeletal tuberculosis are reviewed and indigenous and Asian disease compared. The disease in Asians is more acute with greater systemic disturbance. The abscess is often warm, larger and quicker to develop and there is more likely to be multiple site involvement. Tuberculosis is particularly seen in the knee and cervical spine in the Asian as compared with the hip and lumbar region in the indigenous population. The course of the disease is shorter and there are fewer recurrences in the Asian patient.